Fabric.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PHILIPPS, HYAOINTHELEBEL, AND RAOUL GRIMOIN-SANSON, OF PARIS,FRANCE.

FABRIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,029, dated January28, 1902.

Application filedAugust 6, 1901. Serial No. 71,100- (No specimens.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Josnrn PHILIPPS, HYACINTHE LEBEL, and RAOULGRIMOIN- SANSON, citizens of the Republic of France, residing at Paris,France, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Fabric orMaterial, (for which application for Letters Patent has been madeinGreat Britain under date of July 15, 1901, and in Francethe 28th ofJanuary 1901, No. 307,532,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fabric or material which possessesall the flexibility of ordinary material, although containing corkstrips or sheets. This new product has not the drawback of becomingdetached or altered by disintegration, as in the case of hat-linings,which at first glance might be taken to resemble our new product. Thelatter is not in any way affected by moisture and does not shrink withthe heat. It has all the advantages of rubber materials Without havingtheir drawbacks. Its lightness insures it a number of applicationswhereother materials could not be used with advantage on account oftheir too great density or Weight.

The cork fabric the subject of this invention can be used for garmentson account of its agreeable touch,its flexibility,and its property ofbeing Waterproof. By fixing to the surface of our product a thin layerof flock of wool or cotton, or floss of silk, according to the materialit is proposed to obtain, and by then felting or carding this thinadhesive layer a homogeneous material is produced so closely resemblinga woven fabric, cloth, silk, or cotton as to be liable to be mistakenfor it. In order to complete the illusion and to impart to our corkfabric all the appearance of fabrics and cloths for garments, We applyvarious tints to the material to enable it to be used by tailors,drapers, and others. -In addition to this its insulating propertiesrender it a salable article as insulating material of the first quality,as cork is not only a bad conductor of electricity, but also a very badconductor of heat.

The success of this new product depends greatly on the two followingoperations: first, the division of the cork into thin sheets, (withoutusing, as in the usual processes, agglomer atedsubstances, and, second,the intimate glu= ing or cementing of the cork to the fabric orfoundation. For the first operation a certain skill is required, whichis rapidly acquired by practice. The quality of the cork must be wellchosen, so as to obtain extremely fine sheets or layers. It is obviousthat cork thus cut and sustained or backed by a relatively thin or lightfabric united together by a suitable adhesive and strong compressionwill maintain all its elasticity and present the appearance of a newmaterial agreeable to handle and use. The second operation, theintimat-e adhesion, is obtained, as above stated, by the compression-sayin a hydraulic press or the likeof the fabricimpregnated or coated withglue or adhesive and the thin sheets of cork stated. The layers orcovering of wool or cotton flock or floss of silk are obtained byattaching these materials in a comminuted state to the cork, which iscoated on its surface with glue or paste. This is, however, an ordinaryprocess, the same as for dyeing or printing.

This new material is suitable for use as material for dresses orgarments, upholstery, coverings and cases of various descriptions,imitation morocco or other leather articles, and as an insulatingmaterial.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- A new fabric, consisting of a woven or other fabric with a layer ofthin sheet cork attached thereto and a covering of wool, cotton, or likeflock or floss on said sheet-cork, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our namesto this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH PHILIPPS.

EDWARD P. MACLEAN, EMILE LEDRET.

